i've had it since i was a little kid, it runs in my family, anything can trigger mine really, if i hven't eaten a lot of veges in a day, i am severely constipated. i have actually been in hospital with it 3 times, each time, i hadn't been to the loo in over 2 weeks. basically, i have to drink heaps of water and lots of veges, but i too haven't found it as bad since the kids. that said, i didn't go for 2 weeks after matilda was born, and got the worst case of piles when i finally went, thanks to a bourbon and ciggie!